In Brief: Motorcycle ride raises money for Erie woman

Donations are being sought for a benefit motorcycle ride and picnic scheduled Saturday that will raise money for a young Erie woman diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of cancer.

Cassandra Foster, 26, was first diagnosed in May 2009 and recently underwent surgery at UPMC Presbyterian and is scheduled to have additional treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. She is the mother of three.

The ride will take place Saturday at noon from Harley-Davidson of Erie, 3712 W. 12th St., to Gravel Pit Park, 10300 W. Main Road, North East.

Donations to the auction may be made by calling 460-9844. Proceeds will go toward Foster's current and future medical expenses.

You can also donate by visiting www.youcaring.com or by sending checks to P.O. Box 9023, Erie, PA 16506.

Erie doctor earns bariatric certification

An Erie physician has been awarded diplomat status by the American Board of Bariatric Medicine.

Robert Allison, D.O., earned a higher level of competency and understanding in obesity care by completing specialized education. Obesity medicine physicians meet rigorous qualification and assessment requirements, according to the board's website.

Allison has treated patients in eastern Erie County for 39 years, specializing in family medicine, geriatrics and bariatrics.

UPMC Hamot donates AEDs to public safety department

UPMC Hamot presented two automated external defibrillators to the Erie County Department of Public Safety on Friday.

The AEDs are used to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest at the department's office, 2880 Flower Road. They are designed to be used by people without training.

According to the American Heart Association, each year nearly 383,000 individuals suffer out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests, and at times without warning. Effective bystander CPR/AED use after sudden cardiac arrest can double or even triple a victims chance of survival.